San Salvador on the Ace Chaute River

El Salvador is a small country in Central America. You can find Pacific Ocean beaches, enjoy surfing, marvel at rainforests with waterfalls, and fascinating cities and towns. San Salvador is not only the largest city but also the capital of this country. The city is located on the Ace Chaute River in the Valley of the Hammocks. It is the country’s political, cultural, educational, and financial center.

Iglesia El Rosario is a wonderful church that was designed by sculptor Ruben Martinez and completed in 1971. It can be looked at as the finest church in Central America with an arched roof and natural light that reflects like a rainbow across the altar and shines off the metal and rock. The most dramatic effect of light occurs in the late afternoon. It is the final resting place of Padre Delgado who was the Father of Central American Independence.

Catedral Metropolitana is the most significant landmark in San Salvador and faces the Plaza Barrios. It is the final resting place of Archbishop Oscar A. Romero who always criticized the government from his pulpit at the height of the Civil War. As a result, he was assassinated while giving mass at a nearby hospital. Even earthquakes have not been able to destroy the blue-and-yellow-checked dome which is an everlasting symbol of national pride.

Jardin Botanico La Laguna delights visitors with moss-covered bridges, pebbled paths, and small waterfalls which are home to frogs, turtles, and fish. The fascinating thing is that this botanical garden is found at the bottom of a volcanic crater from which you can see many Salvadoran plant species come to life.

Museo de Arte de El Salvador offers an impressive collection of sketches and paintings that track the development of prominent local and foreign artists. There is a small restaurant on the premises and on Sundays the museum is free. The museum is located up the hill behind the large Monumento a la Revolucion.

On the south end of Plaza Barrios is the impressive Biblioteca Nacional.

Teatro National was renovated in the French Classical style in the mid-20th century.

The Gothic towers of the Iglesia El Calvario are quite impressive and there is a lovely interior.

Taking a Look at El Salvador

Northwest of San Salvador you’ll find La Palma which is the town where national artist Fernando Llort taught. He captured the hearts of the El Salvadoran people and turned La Palma into a nationally recognized artistic hub. Today many of the residents practice Llort’s artistic style. It is worth a visit for its many galleries and workshops and wonderful artistic heritage. You can find quaint Llort-inspired souvenirs.

Suchitoto is one of the few towns in El Salvador that still retains its colonial architecture. Here you can find lovely panoramic views and quaint cobblestone streets. One of its most popular sites is the Museo de los Recuerdos Alejandro Coto, offering beautiful grounds, colonial architecture, great views, and classic fountains as well as one of the country’s most impressive art collections.

Further down the road, you’ll find the 39-foot-tall Los Tercios Waterfall and the Aqua Caliente with hot springs.

Joya de Ceren is a well-preserved Mayan village. This village was abandoned during the eruption of Laguna de Caldera in 640 AD. The town was buried under volcanic ash and it wasn’t until 1976 that it was discovered.

Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador. It’s a beautiful city with an early 20th-century neo-Gothic cathedral, Teatro de Santa Ana an elaborately decorated theater, and Parque Libertad, a picturesque main square.

Lago de Coatepeque or Caldera Coatepeque is a lake that is located right in the heart of a volcanic crater. It is one of the largest lakes in El Salvador. It was formed nearly 72,000 years ago by a series of violent eruptions and volcanic collapses. There are pristine waters great for swimming. You can participate in many water sports like jet skiing and scuba diving. Visitors enjoy taking a ferry ride to Teopan Island, in the center of the lake, motorboat excursions, and lake tours.

Cerro Verde National Park is home to three amazing volcanoes – Izalco, Santa Ana, and Cerro Verde. This is the place you can find one of the country’s few cloud forests and has a great hiking trail. The Window to Nature Trail will take you through the oldest forest in the park, through the craters and past century-old trees. There is amazing flora and fauna, guided bird watching, horseback riding tours, and great views of the volcanoes. Except for Cerro Verde the other two volcanoes have a long history of eruptions. Izalco was once referred to as the “Lighthouse of the Pacific” and Santa Ana is one of the most popular climbs in the country and is the most active of the three.

Costa del Sol a sandy beach just 30 minutes from the San Salvador Airport is becoming a popular tourist spot. It has been divided into three sections – San Marcellino, Los Blancos, and Costa del Sol, a wide beach popular for sporting events.

One of the highlights of the area is a mangrove boat tour of the Jaltepeque estuary. This is a protected area that is home to various bird and fish species. A three-hour boat ride from La Puntilla takes visitors through mangrove tunnels and to where the country’s longest river, Rio Lempe, meets the Pacific Ocean.

Another popular attraction is Atlantis Water Park with activities like slides, swimming pools, and floating rides.